It Was Kind of a Black Friday for Police, Too

Police spent much of their day around Strongsville's shopping areas on Friday, handling problems caused by a crush of day-after-Thanksgiving shoppers.

The problems started at 4:05 a.m. when a group of shoppers at at created a small riot when the doors opened, throwing clothes around and shoving.

A report said officers quickly gained control of the crowd, but the line to get in was still three stores long. Barriers were placed to keep the shoppers in line.

• Throughout the day, police were called to handle at least five shoplifting incidents in the mall and other stores.

• An ambulance was called for a woman slumped over the steering wheel in a locked car outside, 17090 Royalton Rd., about noon.

Police found the woman wasn't sick, only sleeping after Black Friday shopping. She was advised to get some coffee and call someone to come pick her up.

• Officers were also called to the mall when someone came across a car with the door left wide open. Police saw nothing amiss and secured the door.

• At least four car accidents were reported around the crowded Royalton Road area, and mall security officers told police they planned to tow a vehicle parked improperly.

• Also, a shopper reported about 9 a.m. her wallet was lost or stolen somewhere between and the mall.